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grind the lip of a Green’s lawn-mower, as much less resistance is 
offered to balls passing over it, and that resistance remains more 
even throughout the day. 
“3. It eradicates all other grasses and weeds on my lawn. 
Wherever it appears the Couch disappears entirely, and at the present 
time (17th June), when what we call winter grass and man 
objectionable weeds are coming up in the Couch, the parts covered 
with Blue Couch are perfectly free from all other grasses. 
“4. It stands the cold weather better; it is still green and 
growing whilst the Couch is looking brown and its growth has 
stopped. A severe frost turns it brown. 
“5, It requires less top-dressing, and is better without any, if 
there are no subsidences in a lawn. Only sufficient to level the 
surface should be put on, as it does not require fresh soil to feed 
upon. A little fertiliser is quite sufficient. 
“The only objections that I know of are :—Firstly, it dies off 
sooner during a long term of hot dry weather; but it recovers very 
quickly after rain, and as all lawns during such times have to 
watered, it is only a matter of using a little more water, the cost of 
which is less than that of the extra labour required by Couch. 
Secondly, the colour of the grass, which is never a bright green, 
being a blue green in summer and yellow green in winter ; but asi 
is all one colour, this is preferable to the numerous tints which are so 
often found in a Couch lawn—especially during the winter. . . 
It spreads on the lawn, where it is rolled and mown frequently, 
slowly in all directions, and does not send out runners, although it 
appears to do so when it reaches loose soil.” 
As the discovery of a new grass suitable for lawn making in 
warm countries where usually Cynodon Dactylon has to be used for 
that purpose is of considerable value, it is important to inquire 
into the origin and the natural affinities of the grass. As to the 
former, Mr. Maiden says that the grass is supposed to be of 
rican origin, and he refers it with some hesitation to “a variety 
(brevispicatum) of the common summer grass, Panicum (Digitaria) 
sanguinale.” From a letter by Mr. Maiden it appears that the 
author of the varietal name is Vasey and also that no description 
of it was published. A specimen of the grass was received at Kew 
three years ago when it was identified with an unnamed specimen 
of a Digitaria from Tonkin. The investigation was not then - 
earried further ; but on the receipt of additional material in 
November last it was taken up again, resulting in the establishment 
